Thornton has expanded its recycling program and now you can recycle several types of plastics and beverage cartons. Previously only narrow-necked bottles and jars numbered one or two were acceptable. Now, plastic containers numbered 1-7 can be tossed into the green recycle bins.

Eligible items that can be placed in your GREEN recycle container:

• Flattened cardboard
• Magazines and catalogs
• Newspapers and inserts
• Office paper and junk mail
• Phone books
• Paperboard (cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, etc.)
• Beverage cartons (i.e. milk and orange juice containers)
• Brown paper bags
• Glass bottles and jars
• Aluminum cans, aluminum foil, and pie tins
• Steel cans and empty aerosol cans
• Plastic containers numbers 1 - 7

Acceptable plastic containers include...

• Narrow necked containers 1 and 2; caps removed
• Any container stamped 3-7 (except those listed under unacceptable plastics below)
• Wide mouth containers stamped 1-7 (such as butter/margarine/cottage cheese tubs) snap-on lids
• Yogurt containers stamped 1-7 snap-on lids
• Clear clamshells such as sandwich or cookie containers from the deli or bakery, stamped 1-7
• Personal care/prescription bottles stamped 1-7
• Pails stamped 1-7: snap-on lids are ok
• Flower and garden pots stamped 1-7
• 7 Nalgene bottles
• All plastic containers should be rinsed and free of any debris or residue

Unacceptable items

• No shredded paper
• No trash/garbage
• No grocery or plastic bags
• No plastic film
• No food
• No liquids
• No yard waste (grass clippings, weeds, branches)
• No styrofoam
• No electrical cords
• No kitchen/household items (plates, dishes, pots and pans, drinking glasses)
• No electronics (cell phones, appliances, batteries)
• No auto parts (brake pads, alternators, starters)
• No construction debris (bricks, drywall, shingles, wood, wire)
• No frozen food microwave trays
• No food trays or party platters even if stamped with 1-7
• No automotive chemical containers including motor oil and anti-freeze bottles
• No pesticide containers
• No compostable bottles or cups (these will be marked compostable by the manufacturer)
• No containers of any kind larger than 2 1/2 gallons in size
• No other forms of plastic of any kind, such as toys.